Controversial Lexington RV park moves ahead following permit approval | Government and Politics

In early July, Cowlitz County Listening to Examiner Mark Scheibmeir OK’d the particular use and shoreline permits and the campground and leisure facility preliminary web site plan for the mission, with situations, following two public hearings the prior two months.

“After cautious consideration, I conclude that the general public’s causes for opposition don’t overcome the factual presentation made in assist of the requested permits,” Scheibmeir wrote in his order granting the request.

Developer Stoneridge Houses is proposing to construct a 184-space RV park on about 21 acres at 1280 West Facet Freeway. The park would come with a rental workplace and companies constructing, restrooms, visitor parking and a playground space.

The location plan initially referred to as for 201 RV areas however was revised, lowering the variety of slots and utilizing that area to incorporate courts, an off-leash canine space and a pool, in response to mission paperwork.

Early this yr on behalf of the proprietor, Nick Little of Chilton Improvement Companies utilized for what’s referred to as a Degree II shorelines substantial improvement allow, a special-use allow and submitted a campground and leisure services preliminary web site plan. County planning employees beneficial the permits be authorized with situations.

At public hearings and in written feedback, residents voiced considerations that the mission isn’t appropriate with the neighborhood and poses site visitors and security hazards. Neighbors additionally questioned if the proposed guidelines can be enforced.

In the course of the first listening to on Might 11, Scheibmeir reviewed the appliance and continued the listening to for 30 days, requesting the county decide if the state Division of Ecology would require a shoreline variance allow (a variance, if authorized, is an exception to the foundations), if the Washington State Division of Transportation would permit a second entry to the location off West Facet Freeway, and that the developer submit a landscaping plan.

In an e-mail to Daniel Turner, county senior neighborhood planner, an Ecology consultant said the company wouldn’t require a shoreline variance allow for the mission based mostly on requirements set within the county’s crucial areas ordinance.

WSDOT knowledgeable the county it might permit a second entry on the gravel lot on the south finish of the location for emergency or official use solely, in response to an email from the agency included in a folder of project documents on the county’s website.

Lexington Flood Management Zone District had requested to maintain its entry on the location as a result of having to undergo the park throughout a flood would possibly can be “detrimental,” Patrick Harbison, diking engineer, mentioned through the Might listening to.

The entry highway can be gated and locked always, with no normal public entry allowed between the parking space and the RV resort, in response to WSDOT’s e-mail. The primary entrance to the park off West Facet Freeway would line up with Early Hen Drive and embody a left flip lane.

The developer supplied a landscaping plan that would come with fencing the perimeter, besides alongside the dike, and offering a “full enclosure with dense cowl” that may develop into “more and more enticing because it matures and can be completely maintained,” Little testified through the June 16 listening to.

In the course of the second listening to, members of the general public continued to voice considerations about site visitors security and rule enforcement and raised new considerations about signage.

In response to the feedback, new situations have been added to the mission, together with limits on entrance indicators and requiring “predominant” signage on the public parking space and proposed pathway to the levee that communicates the hazard of swimming.

A situation to impose the proposed park guidelines — which require websites to be clear, RVs to be new or move inspection, set quiet hours and different provisions — was added to the practically 30 situations.

Scheibmeir additionally added a situation limiting stays to 90 days per 12-month interval, in comparison with a six-month most proposed by applicant.

In response to worries concerning the public not having sufficient time to overview and touch upon new info earlier than the June 16 listening to, Scheibmeir prolonged the written remark interval for an additional week.

On July 5, Scheibmeir issued his findings, evaluation and order granting the permits. He agreed with employees findings that the mission is sufficiently appropriate with the realm, “as a result of it’s not not like the kind of permitted makes use of within the multifamily zone.”

“Whereas it’s not related in nature to the low-density residential neighborhood throughout the freeway, it’s not out of character with the broad mixture of makes use of east of the freeway,” Scheibmeir wrote.

Whereas neighbors’ considerations about site visitors are comprehensible and legit, they did not display the site visitors research was achieved in violation or contained sufficient errors to require a brand new research, the order said.

“Public opinion is decidedly in opposition to this mission. It should actually be stunning to some, then, that this overwhelming public opposition doesn’t play a big function within the consequence of this listening to,” Scheibmeir wrote. “By regulation the listening to examiner isn’t allowed to contemplate a mission’s recognition.”

It’s unclear when building will start. Little mentioned in an e-mail Friday that some extra overview with the U.S. Military Corps of Engineers and Lexington diking district is required due to the closeness to the levee.